A latching assembly includes a latch mounted to a moveable member, the latch being moveable between a first position where it engages a stop of a base member to releasably secure the moveable member to the base member and a second releasing position. An actuator drives the latch between the first and second positions; and at least one spring biases the latch towards the first position.
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1. A latching assembly for releasably securing a moveable member to a base member, the latching assembly comprising:
an actuator mounted in sliding relation with the moveable member; and a latch pivotally mounted to the moveable member proximate the actuator, the actuator engaging the latch and driving the latch from a first, latching position in which the latch engages a stop portion of the base member to a second, releasing position, wherein the latch includes a pivoting segment that the actuator engages, an engaging segment that engages the stop portion of the base member, a linkage that connects the pivoting segment with the engaging segment and a spring for biasing the engaging segment toward the first, latching position.
7. A latching assembly for releasably securing a moveable member to a base member, the latching assembly comprising:
latching means for releasably engaging a stop portion of the base member, said latching means being mounted to the moveable member and moveable between a first, latching position and a second, releasing position; and actuator means mounted on the moveable member for driving the latching means between the first and second positions, wherein the latching means includes a pivoting segment that the actuator means engages, an engaging segment that engages the stop portion of the base member, a linkage that connects the pivoting segment with the engaging segment, and a spring for biasing the engaging segment toward the first, latching position.
4. The latching assembly of
5. The latching assembly of
6. The latching assembly of
9. The latching assembly of
10. The latching assembly of
11. The latching assembly of
12. The latching assembly of
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This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/561,242, filed on Apr. 28, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,615, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a latching assembly and more particularly to a latching assembly for releasably securing a moveable member to a base member. Although the present invention finds particular utility in applications where it releasably secures a drawer to the housing of a cabinet, it may provide the same or similar function in a wide variety of other applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A latching assembly or mechanism that releasably secures a moveable member such as a drawer of a cabinet to a base member (e.g., the cabinet housing) should have a number of desirable features. First, it should positively engage the base member to securely and reliably lock the moveable member to the base member. Second, it should allow cooperation with the pull or handle of the moveable member to allow easy operation. Third, it should allow mounting to the moveable member in an unobtrusive manner. Finally, it should have a simple construction that minimizes the expense of fabrication and assembly and the risk of breakdown.
The latching assembly of the present invention has all of the features or advantages outlined above. It has a construction that provides a positive latching action to securely and reliably fasten a moveable member to a base member. It has a simple construction which does indeed minimize the expense of fabrication while providing easy performance; and it mounts onto the moveable member in a clean and unobtrusive manner.
In accordance with the present invention, a latching assembly for releasably securing a moveable member to a base member includes latching means mounted to the moveable member. One may move the latching means between a first, latching position in which the latching means engages a stop portion of the base member and a second, releasing position. An actuator mounted to the moveable member engages the latching means and allows an operator to drive the latching means between the first and second positions. At least one spring biases the latching means towards the first position. In one embodiment, the latching means includes a plate with a flange portion. In another embodiment the latching means includes a pivoting segment that the actuator engages, an engaging segment that engages the stop portion and a linkage segment that connects the pivoting segment with the engaging segment.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, one should now refer to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of an example of the invention. In the drawings:
While the following disclosure describes the invention in connection with two embodiments, one should understand that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, one should understand that the drawings are not to scale and that graphic symbols, diagrammatic representatives, and fragmentary views, in part, may illustrate the embodiments. In certain instances, the disclosure may not include details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly.
Turning now to the drawings and referring specifically to
The latch 11 is a plate made out of sheet metal or any other suitable material of high strength and rigidity; and it includes a main portion 11a and a flange portion 11b. The flange portion 11b extends outwardly of the main portion 11a at an acute angle to the main portion 11a. This flange portion 11b engages a stop portion B1 of the cabinet housing B to releasably secure the drawer D to the cabinet housing B when the latch 11 lies in a first position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 3). The latch 11 extends out of an opening D1 formed in the back side of a shell D2 that forms a hollow front panel of the drawer D. The flange end lies outwardly of the shell D2 while an opposite end (the end that the actuator 12 engages) lies within the shell D2.
The torsion springs 13 hingedly connect the latch 11 (in teeter-totter fashion) to the drawer D; and they bias the latch to the first position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3. One end of each spring 13 lies fixedly secured (e.g., welded) to the shell D2 proximate the opening D1 while the other end lies fixedly secured (e.g., welded) to the latch 11. Alternatively, the latching assembly may include less than the three springs shown in
The actuator 12, like the latch 11, is made of sheet metal or any other suitable material of suitable strength and rigidity. It includes a channel portion 12a having the cross-sectional configuration of an inverted U and a flange portion 12b. The channel portion 12a receives a wall portion P1 of the pull P; and the flange portion 12b receives the finger tips of one who may drive the actuator 12 from the lowered position shown in solid lines in
While the above description and the drawings disclose and illustrate two embodiments, one should understand, of course, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains may make other modifications and other embodiments employing the principles of this invention, particularly upon-considering the foregoing teachings. Therefore, by the appended claims, the applicant intends to cover any modifications and other embodiments as incorporate those features which constitute the essential features of this invention.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
May 14 2002 | Fisher Hamilton L.L.C. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Dec 03 2003 | JP Morgan Chase Bank | DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 014830 | /0001 |
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